With four months to go till the Cheltenham Festival, it might seem crazy to some that I’m already eyeing up the handicaps given the uncertainty around targets for the season. However, there looks to be plenty of upside about my two selections for the Pertemps Final and I envisage that if they line up, they’ll be right at the head of the market come the off.
The Irish have dominated this race of late, winning the last five renewals. In that time, the Irish have only had 29 of the 119 runners (24%). Last year, the Irish had a 1-2-3-5 from just 8 representatives, while Gordon Elliott saddled his 3rd winner in as many years as Sire Du Berlais beat his stablemate, The Storyteller. Both Gordon and JP are represented in my selections.
The Bosses Oscar 25/1 E/W
Tower Bridge 33/1 E/W
Both will be recorded to a stake of 0.5pts E/W
The Bosses Oscar
An 11/1 chance for last years Martin Pipe, The Bosses Oscar had a horrendous trip that day. He made multiple jumping mistakes and was off the bridle a long way from home which meant he found himself in 17th place as the field turned for home. However, he stayed on in the style of a horse with a big engine as, despite being hampered at the last, he finished a never-nearer 5th. It’s worth noting that Sire Du Berlais finished 4th in the 2018 Martin Pipe before winning back-to-back renewals of the Pertemps.
In the immediate aftermath, pundits were praising his effort as one of the more eye-catching runs of the week, highlighting him as an early contender for the (now defunct) novices’ handicap chase. Interestingly, Gordon has decided to stick to hurdles this season; he noted in his stable tour that he’d be “pretty hopeful” that he can win a valuable handicap hurdle.
He made a winning seasonal reappearance at Thurles back in October as he somewhat miraculously survived a steward’s enquiry. The form of that win doesn’t leap off the page but he won with a bit in hand despite inexperience and he would’ve almost certainly needed the run given the trainers modus operandi and that was just his 5th run over hurdles.
Still young and completely unexposed over 3-miles, which he should relish, he looks a standout contender for a trainer that has proven his ability to ready one come the big day in March and one that had landed the 1-2 in both 2018 & 2020.
His current mark in Ireland is 139 meaning he’ll certainty get in the race, providing he qualifies of course. On that note, I’d be shocked if his next race isn’t in a Pertemps qualifier. He could well be seen next in the Leopardstown qualifier over Christmas which has proven a successful stepping stone in recent years. A top-6 effort there would see his price shorten significantly.
With Column of Fire reportedly set to go over fences, The Bosses Oscar stands out as Elliott’s main contender.
Tower Bridge
Having been chasing for the last two seasons, it was very notable to see Tower Bridge declared for the Pertemps qualifier at Market Rasen on the 19th November for what will be Joseph’s first ever runner at the midlands track.
Despite running some good races over the larger obstacles, Tower Bridge’s jumping often left a lot to be desired. He was often well fancied for some competitive handicaps (6/1 for the Close Brothers Novices’ Chase, 7/1 for the Troytown, 8/1 for the Paddy Power Chase) but his jumping was always his Achilles’ heel. Still a maiden over fences after seven runs, reverting to hurdles looks the smart move.
Crucially, he boasts some impressive Festival form. 5th in the Albert Bartlett in 2018, he belied his poor jumping to finish 2nd to A Plus Tard in the 2019 Close Brothers, staying on well at the finish. While he was no match for the subsequent Grade 1 winner, he was 5 lengths clear of the 3rd in spite of his poor jumping.
It’s also worth noting that he’s only had 5 starts over hurdles so he’s far from exposed in this discipline. As well as finishing 5th in the Albert Bartlett, he also finished 3rd in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree behind Santini and Roksana while it’s easy to forget that he won the Grade 1 Novice Hurdle over 2m6f at Leopardstown (for all that it wasn’t a vintage renewal)
The British handicapper has allotted him a mark of 145 for his run at Market Rasen, which looks well within his scope and it must be of significance that his shrewd connections have ventured all the way to Market Rasen for a Pertemps qualifier. A 6th placed finish would be ideal, but there’s plenty of other opportunities to get him qualified if he fails to finish in the top 6 here.
Joseph O’Brien has proven himself well able to prepare one for a Cheltenham handicap; he had two winners back in 2019 with Band of Outlaws and Early Doors while he went close in 2020 with Us and Them and Embittered.
Furthermore, JP McManus has won the Pertemps four times, while he’s also had five hit the frame in the last 8 years; it’s a race he’s known to target.
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